Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-12-10

idea that the rebellion would last much
longer; h great armies Of Mcclellan and
Halleck, we thought, would soon crush
their opponents, aud Mitchell would be
upon Chattanooga, and thus deliver us
from u horrible confinement. Could we
live but Il little longer tho chances Of d.
Gverance were good.
We also talked much Of homo Life and
friends, and thus became really acquainted
for the first time. Hitherto we had known
little Of each other: but now this inter.
change Of thought and history brought us
close together, and caused the hours to
pass very much moro pleasantly. We
talked Of future plans when we should be
released from this place. We permitted
no n to get downspirited. Had we been
confined in solitude, the dread and fore
boding would have been moro terrible.
Out we made q league against fear and
trctting.
Every %precautlon was taken to preserve
our health that we might be able when
there came q chance for escape. No one
was allowed to stand SO as to obstruct the
ventilation through the wall holes; the
exercise possible in such Il limited space
was taken; and the help and good will Of
all was a wonderful relief; but we needed
every possible support.
When all OF Jul party were brought
into the prison we carefully reviewed the
situation and ascertained how much tho
enemy had learned in regard to us. Most
had already given names and regiments,
and had claimed to lie American soldiers.
Nothing could be gained, therefore, by
denying what we had done. or our true
character. The first could be proved by
those who saw us on the train, by our
! captors, Or by IL own admissions; tho
latter, SO far from wishing to deny, was
u only possible defense. We therefore
resolved that we would say, when cx-
amined, that we had been appointed by
u officers to servo under a ma whom
we had never seen, but whom We sup
posed to be n officer from some other
regiment or brigade; that the nature Of
our service was not clearly made known
to us further than 1t was to destroy some
line of communications in the cnelny's
country; that we were in citizens clothing
only that we might not alarm the citizens
among whom we were to travel; that we
did not see any pickets Of the enemy or
pass them ut any point; that VIC were In
no camp; that we supposed II cXpcdi-
ton to be within the rules Of war and
ourselves entitled to protection ns prison.
ers Of war; that We had obcyed Andrews
as We considered ourselves bound in duty
to do; and TINT II we made false repre-
sensations, it vas only what VIC wcre led
to do by fear Of discovery. We were not
to say anything about Campbell being only
q citizen; and were to refuse under I'LL cir
cumstanccs to tell who our engineer was.
Admitting that VIC were under the or
dcrs of Andrews would not In the least
embarrass him, for this much could bc
proved from what he was actually seer to
do on the train, and he had already de-
clared as much when captured. But We
never revealed anything that would throw
light on his employment as u spy In our
service, The story which we thus planned
to tell was so closely adhered to that the
enemy never learned that we were volun-
tecrs and intelligent participants In the
enterprise.
Mono Of us knew just the line of de-
fcnse taken by Andrews, or upon what he
based the hopes he did, certainly, to some
extent, cntcrtain; but the following is the
most probable:
lie was known to the %southcrncrs az a
blockade runner. This trade, il he could
only persuade the Fcdcrals to permit It,
was OF great advantage to the COnfcdcr-
ates. lie might afford to do Il good deal
for tho edcrHls, and the balance of nd.
vantage he still on the Confederate side.
Now he claimed that he was offered by
Gen. Mitchell, who greatly wanted III en-
Glnc, the privilege Of trading south to the
extent of $4,000 per month as long as the
war lasted, on the simple condition thnt
no would seize IN engine and carry il
through, he NlitcllcD supplying the men
| f6r t1in nntnrnris, t,lrn,., al ,I:.,I,;,,
to the enemy that he intended to burn any
bridges, or do any harm beyond the com
paratively trilling one Of carrying Off this
engine.
The defense was but feeble, though 1t
was possibly as good us could be nude
under the circumstances. But tho enemy
had no notion that Il Federal general like
Mitchell would send his men away down
to the heart of Georgia for au engine,
when, as experience showed, he had been
able to get them 10y The score In Kentucky
and Alabama.
No decision had been publicly rendered,
when suddenly twelve Of us were ordered
to Knoxville, Tenn. Our parting with
Andrews was sad and solemn, for we had
little nope OF meeting again, and our
worst forcbodings were realized. Before
this VIC had been removed to Madison,
Ga, under fear Of an advance by Gen.
Mitchell; aud when we returned the great
indulgence Of a short daily airing in the
Jail yard was given. On IL warm after
noon, when the remaining nine were in
the yard, an unknown officer entered the
gate and went quickly up to Andrews;
without q word he handed him u paper
contained in IL large envelope, and turning
away walked rapidly out of the yard.
Andrews broke the seal und glanced at it,
turning pale as marble. 1t was his death
warrant! All who saw him felt thut some
tidings Of OWL had arrived, and the officer
Of the guard spoke very gently as he told
them that 1t was now time to retire to
their room. When there, Andrews gave
his comrades tho paper and they read the
fearful Intelligence. In one w%cck--July
The was to DO executed by ha.ngingl
This was Saturday, and on tho Saturday
following he was TO die!
lCOSTIEGED.l